Improvement in machinery for making wire sieves



UNrTnD STATES PATENT OFFICE@ E. B. BIGELOVV, OF BOSTON, AND CHARLES H. VVA-TIERS, OF GROTON, MASSA- CHUSETTS, ASSIGNORS TO CLINTON WIRE CLOTH COMPANY.

IMPROVEMENT IN lMACHINERY FOR MAKING WIRE SIEVES.

Spccication forming part of Letters Patent No. 55,41 l, dated June 5, 1866.

Similar' letters represent similar parts in the different views.

The first part of our improvement relates to the method of cutting1 out the sieve-bottoms from the wire-cloth.

Figures 1,2, 3, and 4t represent what we term the cutter, Fig. l being a top View, Fig. 2 a side view, Fig. 3 a front view, and Fig. 4 a vertical section on line A B of Fig. l.

The wire-cloth from which the sieve-bottoms are made, instead of being wovenv narrow and cut into squares, as has been heretofore done, is woven wide-say wide enough for several sieve-bottoms, and is cut out round in diagonal rows across the web, the circles of one being in part cut out of the spaces between the circles of another row, thus saving a `percentage ofthe cloth. The position of the circles is shown by the dotted lines ain Fig. l.

The cloth (indicated bythe red letter b) from which the bottoms are to be cut is wound in more or less quantity upon the roller c, and thence it passes between the two friction feedrollers d and e, and extends outward to the action of the cutter, which will be hereinafter explained.

At one end of the lower feed-roller, e, isafiixed a crank, f, by which the operator draws oft at will the cloth from the cloth-roll c .to

bring it under the action of the cutting appasupport, p, having a plane circular area at its surface coinciding with the desired size of the sieve-bottoms, and any desired portion of the end of the web of wire-cloth is brought over the stationary die by means of the two comthe connecting-rod s, the lever t, and the upright connecting-rod u, to the lower end of which the circular presser q is afxed.

c .is a counteracting-spring to reverse the motion and throw up the presser from its pressure upon the cloth and die when the foot of the operator is withdrawn 5 but while the cloth is yfirmly held upon the die by the circular presser the circular sieve-bottom is cut by the revolving cutter w, the sharp edge of which cuts against the upper periphery ofthe circular die. The revolving cutter is constantly pressed toits contact with thedie by the spring x, and receivesit-s revolving motion by the action of the operator upon the hand-wheel z, one revolution of which cuts out asieve-bottom, and thus completes the irst step of our improved method.

The second part of our improvement relates to forming the sieve-bottoms for the hoop, or turning up the edges in the form of a tin-box cover, and of such diameter that the iiange or edge is adapted tol be received between the hoops of the sieve, to which they are to be nailed or fastened. The machinery for this purpose we term the former,77 and it is shown in the `drawings byFigs. 5, 6, 7, and 8.

Fig. 5 is a rear elevation. Fig. 6 is a top view. Fig. 7 is a vertical section on line C vD of Fig. 6; and Fig. S is a vertical section on line EF of Fig. y6.

Similar numbers represent similar parts 1n all the views.

1 represents a circular plate resting upon a vertical stem or shaft, 2, which is fixed loosely in a vertical cylindrical passage in the bedplate 3, and rests ultimately upon the spring 4. The circular plate l moves vertically in a short cylinder, 5, which is affixed to the top of the bed-plate 3.

expanding fastener.

The circular sieve-bottom 6, the ed ge of which is to be formed or hanged, is placed in themachine ready to be acted upon by the plunger 7, the area of which is a little less than the` -action of the cylinder and plunger, the edge ofthe sieve-bottom is turned up or hanged. Upon the withdrawal of the plunger the action of the spring forces up the plate to its original level, and thus forces the sieve-bottom out of the cylinder, and the machine is again ready to repeat the operation.

Poweris applied to the driving-belt 8 through the loose pulley 9, the fast pulley 10, the pinion l1, the cog-wheel 12, the shaft 13, the crank 14, the connecting-rod 15, the lever 16, and the connecting-rod 17, to the lower end of which the plunger 7 is affixed. rllhe drivingbelt 8 runs without actuating the machine as long as the loose pulley 9 revolves loosely upon its axis, but when pressed to its friction-hold against the tight pulley 10 by the jointed lever 18, which is actuated by the foot of the operator upon the treadle 19, the drivin g-belt actuates the entire machine.

The treadle 19 being depressed for the purpose of bringing the machine into action, is so retained by means of the gravitatin g catch 20, until again thrown out of action by the pin 21 upon the cog-wheel 12, which, after each complete operation, impinges upon the projecting lever 22, at the opposite end of the rockershaft 23, to which the catch 2Q is affixed, when the spring24immediately throws up the treadle and relieves the jointed lever 18, and the friction between the fast and loose pulleys ceases.

The third part of our improvement relates to the expansion and nailing ot' the sieve, and the machinery for this purpose we term the Itis exhibitedin Figs. 9, 10, 11, 12, and 13.

Fig. 9 is a front view. Fig. 10 is a top View; Fig. 11, an end view; Fig. l2, vertical section on line G H of Fig. 10, and Fig. 13 is a detail section of the expanding-mandrel on line I J of Fig. 12.

When a 'sieve is to be constructed oneof the hoops is placed upon the expanding-mandrel, which is composed of a number of segments, 26, constructed so as to be readily expanded and contracted, and the wire sievebottom, having been previously flanged, is capped over the hoop on the mandrel. The lower hoop or hatten is then placed within the nailing-cup 28, and is advanced toward the mandrel by means of the lever 29 and the pinion 30 and the rack 31, until the hatten appropriately circumscribes the hoop and sievebottom, asin the ordinary construction of a of the mandrel. To the follower l32, which slides freely upon the shaft 33, are attached the three short connecting-rods 34, which, b v suitable lips 35, are connected with the hub of the'hand-whcel 36, which has in its hub a female screw-thread, 37, working upon a male screw-thread, 3S, on the sleeve-cylinder 39.

40 is au elastic band which contracts the radiating segments of the mandrel upon the withdrawal of the follower.

When amore powerful expansion is required to give the sieve its final tension it is effected by arresting the rotary motion of the handwheel 36 by means of the dog-stop 41, and throwing the pinion 42, moved by hand-wheel 44, into gear with the cog-wheel 43, which is attached to the sleeve-cylinder 39.

The segments of the expanding-mandrel are made of metal, in order to serve as anvils on which to clinch the nails that are used in making the sieve. The nailing-cup has a number of small openings, 45, in the ange that receives the hatten, and usually corresponding with the number of segments of the mandrel, and through which the holes are punched and the nails are driventhat fasten the batten and hoop together to perfect the sieve.

Immediately in rear of the nailing-cup 28, and bearing loosely upon the same shaft, is a circular plate, 46, parallel with the nailingcup, and kept at a limited distance therefrom by the springs 47 and the gage-pins 48. Near the outer circumference of this circular plate are a number of smallpins, 49, which, on the completion of the sieve, and upon the withdrawal of the nailing-cup by action ofthe lever 29 and its appurtenances, projects through suitable openings in the plate of the nailingcup, and thus forces out the newly-made sieve.

50 represents the automatic punch for puuching the holes, and 51 the automatic hammer for driving the nails used in nailing the sieve, which work upon the same rod, and either of which being brought into action receives its required vertical motion through the lever 52, the crank 53, the shaft 54, the tight pulley 55, and the fast pulley 56, to which the power is communicated by the drivin g-belt 57.

Simultaneously with the vertical motion of the nailing device the mandrel receives an intermittent rotary motion from the shaft 54 through the crank 58, the connecting-rod 59, the lever 60, the vibrating catch 61, and the ratchet-wheel 62, which is attached to the side of the cog-wheel 43. The number of notches in the ratchet-wheel 62 corresponds with the number of slots in the flange of the nailing-cup, and ordinarily with the number of segments of the mandrel, and the arrangement ofthe parts of the machine is such that the descending of the punch or hammer 5l occurs during the cessation of the intermit tent rotary motion of the mandrel.

63 is a friction-brake which, by the requisitel Yery of the ratchet-wheel 62, aud holds it and the connected mandrel iirmly during the recession of the catch 61.

When it is desired to bring the machine into operation the hand of the operator is applied to the handle 65, and a limited motion from right to left is given to the shipping-rod 66, and through the lever 67 the loose pulley 56 is brought to its friction-hold upon the tight pulley 55, and the gravita-ting latch 68 drops into a notch, 69, in the shipping-rod 66, and retains the machine in action until one complete revolution and process of punching or nailing; is effected, when the projecting` pin 70 in the cog-wheel 43 strikes the lever 71, upon the end of the shipping-rod 66, and by a partial revolution of said rod throws off the gravitating,` latch 68, when the 'spiral spring 7 2 iinmediately throws back the shipping-rod toits original position, and the machine is thrown out of action.

73 is a friction-brake which, being connected with the shipping-rod 66 by the lever 74, releases its hold upon the tight pulley Whenever the shipping-rod is moved to the left and the machine is in revolution.

We claimv 1. The cutting1 apparatus, constructed and operated substantially as described.

2. The forming apparatus, constructed and operated substantially as described.

3. The expanding` fastener, constructed and operated substantially as described.

4. rlhe method of manufacturing wire-cloth sieves by the successive use ofthe cutting apparatus, cutting the sieve-bottoms diagonally across the web ot' the cloth, the forming apparatus for turning` up ythe edges ofthe sievebottom, and the expanding fastener for distending the sieve-bottoms, substantially as described.

E. B. BIGELOW. C. H. WATERS.

Witnesses GEORGE F. WRIGT, G. F. W. PAnKHURs'r. 

